{"id":101,"date":"2022-06-15T12:29:21","date_gmt":"2022-06-15T10:29:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gatewaydental.co.za\/site\/?p=101"},"modified":"2022-06-21T10:23:24","modified_gmt":"2022-06-21T08:23:24","slug":"diabetes-oral-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gatewaydental.co.za\/site\/diabetes-oral-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Diabetes & Oral Health"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

You probably already know that diabetes affects your kidneys, heart, eyes and other areas of the body, but did you know that it also affects oral health? In fact, those with diabetes are at a far higher risk of gum disease. Left unchecked, gum disease can have serious consequences, from tooth loss to chewing difficulties.<\/span><\/p>

One symptom of diabetes is dry mouth, which can result in pain, ulcers, infections and tooth decay. Often, smoking worsens symptoms. Other symptoms to look out for include sore or swollen gums, bleeding gums, receding gums, loose teeth and bad breath. While these symptoms could also indicate other types of oral disease, you cannot afford to rule out the chance of diabetes \u2013 especially if you have a history of the disease in your family. In this guide, we take a look at the relationship between diabetes and oral health.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

How Diabetes Affects Oral Health\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The most effective way to ensure optimal oral health if you have diabetes is to control your blood glucose levels. If you experience any of the symptoms we have listed above, speak to your doctor immediately. Those with higher blood glucose levels are more likely to get gum disease. Very often, those who are not controlling their blood glucose levels will find themselves at higher risk of more serious cases of gum disease as well. Some of the ways that you can reduce the risk of oral disease<\/span> include the following:<\/span><\/p>